I would like you all to close your eyes please this is the sound that entered my
please this is the sound that entered my
please this is the sound that entered my father’s education and I would like to
father’s education and I would like to
father’s education and I would like to tell you why and why it is still of
tell you why and why it is still of
tell you why and why it is still of relevance today now if you haven’t done
relevance today now if you haven’t done
relevance today now if you haven’t done so please open your eyes again let me
so please open your eyes again let me
so please open your eyes again let me take you back to Kabul Afghanistan 1971
take you back to Kabul Afghanistan 1971
take you back to Kabul Afghanistan 1971 back then it was in no way comparable to
back then it was in no way comparable to
back then it was in no way comparable to the Kabul that you would think of today
the Kabul that you would think of today
the Kabul that you would think of today plagued by terrorism corruption and
plagued by terrorism corruption and
plagued by terrorism corruption and overpopulation the Kabul that I am
overpopulation the Kabul that I am
overpopulation the Kabul that I am referring to back then in 1971 was a
referring to back then in 1971 was a
referring to back then in 1971 was a small peaceful city of roughly 300,000
small peaceful city of roughly 300,000
small peaceful city of roughly 300,000 people under the reign of King Zahir
people under the reign of King Zahir
people under the reign of King Zahir Shah in that Kabul I would like to
Shah in that Kabul I would like to
Shah in that Kabul I would like to introduce you to muhammad yahya a 16
introduce you to muhammad yahya a 16
introduce you to muhammad yahya a 16 year old high school student who had a
year old high school student who had a
year old high school student who had a strong passion for literature and was
strong passion for literature and was
strong passion for literature and was literally craving for knowledge one day
literally craving for knowledge one day
literally craving for knowledge one day muhammad yahya are to me simply baba
muhammad yahya are to me simply baba
muhammad yahya are to me simply baba which means an afghan dad had fallen ill
which means an afghan dad had fallen ill
which means an afghan dad had fallen ill and was suffering from fever despite his
and was suffering from fever despite his
and was suffering from fever despite his illness my baba made it to class which
illness my baba made it to class which
illness my baba made it to class which sounds like any other regular school day
sounds like any other regular school day
sounds like any other regular school day but this was certainly not the case that
but this was certainly not the case that
but this was certainly not the case that day his teacher falsely accused him of
day his teacher falsely accused him of
day his teacher falsely accused him of disturbing class my Baba knowing that
disturbing class my Baba knowing that
disturbing class my Baba knowing that this was not the truth confidently stood
this was not the truth confidently stood
this was not the truth confidently stood up for himself and denied his teachers
up for himself and denied his teachers
up for himself and denied his teachers accusation in his traditional attempt to
accusation in his traditional attempt to
accusation in his traditional attempt to discipline my father the teacher got up
discipline my father the teacher got up
discipline my father the teacher got up to slap him but my Baba
to slap him but my Baba
to slap him but my Baba that’s something extraordinary he did
that’s something extraordinary he did
that’s something extraordinary he did not let the teacher slap him and even
not let the teacher slap him and even
not let the teacher slap him and even stopped him which resulted in this exact
stopped him which resulted in this exact
stopped him which resulted in this exact same sound that you just heard at the
same sound that you just heard at the
same sound that you just heard at the beginning as a result my Baba was kicked
beginning as a result my Baba was kicked
beginning as a result my Baba was kicked out of school which also meant
out of school which also meant
out of school which also meant ultimately the end of his education and
ultimately the end of his education and
ultimately the end of his education and that’s exactly when he decided to go
that’s exactly when he decided to go
that’s exactly when he decided to go beyond borders refusing to believe that
beyond borders refusing to believe that
beyond borders refusing to believe that his opportunities in life and his
his opportunities in life and his
his opportunities in life and his educational pathway had come to an end
educational pathway had come to an end
educational pathway had come to an end my Baba made it to Hamburg Germany in
my Baba made it to Hamburg Germany in
my Baba made it to Hamburg Germany in 1971
1971
1971 nowadays you would call such a person
nowadays you would call such a person
nowadays you would call such a person and economic migrant which is according
and economic migrant which is according
and economic migrant which is according to the Oxford Dictionary a person that
to the Oxford Dictionary a person that
to the Oxford Dictionary a person that travels from one country to another in
travels from one country to another in
travels from one country to another in order to improve their standard of
order to improve their standard of
order to improve their standard of living
living
living wow what a broad term standard of living
wow what a broad term standard of living
wow what a broad term standard of living isn’t it it’s quite abstract but at the
isn’t it it’s quite abstract but at the
isn’t it it’s quite abstract but at the same time so real so how do you try to
same time so real so how do you try to
same time so real so how do you try to improve your standard of living
improve your standard of living
improve your standard of living education seems to be the key allowing
education seems to be the key allowing
education seems to be the key allowing us to cross from one social layer to the
us to cross from one social layer to the
us to cross from one social layer to the other essentially enabling us to live a
other essentially enabling us to live a
other essentially enabling us to live a self-determined life but let me take you
self-determined life but let me take you
self-determined life but let me take you back again to Hamburg Germany in 1971 so
back again to Hamburg Germany in 1971 so
back again to Hamburg Germany in 1971 so there is my Baba a young Afghan man 17
there is my Baba a young Afghan man 17
there is my Baba a young Afghan man 17 years old with no high school diploma
years old with no high school diploma
years old with no high school diploma not speaking a single word of German but
not speaking a single word of German but
not speaking a single word of German but with big dreams and the ambition to make
with big dreams and the ambition to make
with big dreams and the ambition to make it in the new society not only refusing
it in the new society not only refusing
it in the new society not only refusing to believe that his education may have
to believe that his education may have
to believe that his education may have come to an end
come to an end
come to an end my Baba was also actually quite
my Baba was also actually quite
my Baba was also actually quite confident that he could succeed in
confident that he could succeed in
confident that he could succeed in higher education but without a high
higher education but without a high
higher education but without a high school diploma
school diploma
school diploma there was a 0% chance to get into
there was a 0% chance to get into
there was a 0% chance to get into university so stubborn as my dad is he
university so stubborn as my dad is he
university so stubborn as my dad is he took a drastic measure he faked his
took a drastic measure he faked his
took a drastic measure he faked his papers and got accepted into University
papers and got accepted into University
papers and got accepted into University I mean I must say he was quite a
I mean I must say he was quite a
I mean I must say he was quite a character wasn’t he
character wasn’t he
character wasn’t he I mean apart from this possible crime
I mean apart from this possible crime
I mean apart from this possible crime here let’s look at the real interesting
here let’s look at the real interesting
here let’s look at the real interesting fact he faked his papers and got
fact he faked his papers and got
fact he faked his papers and got accepted into University and he
accepted into University and he
accepted into University and he performed really really well so why am I
performed really really well so why am I
performed really really well so why am I telling you all of this because it
telling you all of this because it
telling you all of this because it matters it matters more than ever today
matters it matters more than ever today
matters it matters more than ever today currently there are over 65 million
currently there are over 65 million
currently there are over 65 million people forcibly displaced worldwide and
people forcibly displaced worldwide and
people forcibly displaced worldwide and 33,000 more every single day according
33,000 more every single day according
33,000 more every single day according to UNHCR less than 1% has access to
to UNHCR less than 1% has access to
to UNHCR less than 1% has access to higher education which leaves millions
higher education which leaves millions
higher education which leaves millions of people without the possibility to
of people without the possibility to
of people without the possibility to fully live up to their potential just
fully live up to their potential just
fully live up to their potential just like for Bobba lack of documentation is
like for Bobba lack of documentation is
like for Bobba lack of documentation is one of the main barriers that refugees
one of the main barriers that refugees
one of the main barriers that refugees face when it comes to accessing higher
face when it comes to accessing higher
face when it comes to accessing higher education think about that again this
education think about that again this
education think about that again this means that there are millions of Boba’s
means that there are millions of Boba’s
means that there are millions of Boba’s out there that have the capability to
out there that have the capability to
out there that have the capability to study but I systematically denied to do
study but I systematically denied to do
study but I systematically denied to do so and this is the case in the 21st
so and this is the case in the 21st
so and this is the case in the 21st century where human capital matters more
century where human capital matters more
century where human capital matters more than ever to thrive in a knowledge
than ever to thrive in a knowledge
than ever to thrive in a knowledge Society I am inviting you to rethink
Society I am inviting you to rethink
Society I am inviting you to rethink with me our entire admission systems
with me our entire admission systems
with me our entire admission systems let’s think of a world where educational
let’s think of a world where educational
let’s think of a world where educational performance matters and not a piece of
performance matters and not a piece of
performance matters and not a piece of paper imagine to find an alternative a
paper imagine to find an alternative a
paper imagine to find an alternative a more just way than that piece of paper
more just way than that piece of paper
more just way than that piece of paper that is not only determining your access
that is not only determining your access
that is not only determining your access to education but also the quality of it
to education but also the quality of it
to education but also the quality of it but Before we jump into this new world
but Before we jump into this new world
but Before we jump into this new world of rethinking admissions we should
of rethinking admissions we should
of rethinking admissions we should quickly take a look at where this
quickly take a look at where this
quickly take a look at where this unequal access to higher education is
unequal access to higher education is
unequal access to higher education is coming from so why do we determine
coming from so why do we determine
coming from so why do we determine access mostly through a the high school
access mostly through a the high school
access mostly through a the high school diploma and be the respective grade one
diploma and be the respective grade one
diploma and be the respective grade one main reason is a very simple fact demand
main reason is a very simple fact demand
main reason is a very simple fact demand by far the supply college capacities are
by far the supply college capacities are
by far the supply college capacities are limited and therefore selection is
limited and therefore selection is
limited and therefore selection is inherent probably one of the most
inherent probably one of the most
inherent probably one of the most illustrative examples for this would be
illustrative examples for this would be
illustrative examples for this would be medicine I think we all have that one
medicine I think we all have that one
medicine I think we all have that one friend among our group of friends that
friend among our group of friends that
friend among our group of friends that really wanted to go to med school but
really wanted to go to med school but
really wanted to go to med school but never got in that friend will probably
never got in that friend will probably
never got in that friend will probably always ask himself I wonder what if and
always ask himself I wonder what if and
always ask himself I wonder what if and that makes me wonder what would have
that makes me wonder what would have
that makes me wonder what would have actually happened if you just gotten the
actually happened if you just gotten the
actually happened if you just gotten the chance to go for it and try to some
chance to go for it and try to some
chance to go for it and try to some extent we can already see a development
extent we can already see a development
extent we can already see a development towards more variety in admissions
towards more variety in admissions
towards more variety in admissions partly given through competency in
partly given through competency in
partly given through competency in admissions tests however none of these
admissions tests however none of these
admissions tests however none of these really overcome the initial issue of
really overcome the initial issue of
really overcome the initial issue of limited college capacities and ensuring
limited college capacities and ensuring
limited college capacities and ensuring an overall increased access how about we
an overall increased access how about we
an overall increased access how about we find a way where people are freely able
find a way where people are freely able
find a way where people are freely able to just start with their choice of
to just start with their choice of
to just start with their choice of interest and are purely assessed on
interest and are purely assessed on
interest and are purely assessed on their educational performance how about
their educational performance how about
their educational performance how about we let people explore the vast amount of
we let people explore the vast amount of
we let people explore the vast amount of Sciences without even limiting them in
Sciences without even limiting them in
Sciences without even limiting them in the first place this image that I am
the first place this image that I am
the first place this image that I am creating of rethinking admissions and
creating of rethinking admissions and
creating of rethinking admissions and creating truly equal access I strongly
creating truly equal access I strongly
creating truly equal access I strongly believe that this can be done through
believe that this can be done through
believe that this can be done through blended learning and the effective use
blended learning and the effective use
blended learning and the effective use of digitalization the vast amount of
of digitalization the vast amount of
of digitalization the vast amount of world-class open educational resources
world-class open educational resources
world-class open educational resources builds the very basis for this MOOCs
builds the very basis for this MOOCs
builds the very basis for this MOOCs massive open online courses offered
massive open online courses offered
massive open online courses offered through institutions such as Harvard
through institutions such as Harvard
through institutions such as Harvard Stanford or MIT are allowing students
Stanford or MIT are allowing students
Stanford or MIT are allowing students from all over the world to enroll in
from all over the world to enroll in
from all over the world to enroll in courses irrespective of their background
courses irrespective of their background
courses irrespective of their background and prior educational pathway whether
and prior educational pathway whether
and prior educational pathway whether it’s a course in introduction to
it’s a course in introduction to
it’s a course in introduction to computer science provided by Harvard
computer science provided by Harvard
computer science provided by Harvard lecturers or a course in game theory
lecturers or a course in game theory
lecturers or a course in game theory there is little what is not covered
there is little what is not covered
there is little what is not covered online by founding Karen open higher
online by founding Karen open higher
online by founding Karen open higher education in
education in
education in 2015 we went a step further and created
2015 we went a step further and created
2015 we went a step further and created accessible digital curricula that are
accessible digital curricula that are
accessible digital curricula that are based on these open educational
based on these open educational
based on these open educational resources through our digital curricula
resources through our digital curricula
resources through our digital curricula ranging ranging from engineering to
ranging ranging from engineering to
ranging ranging from engineering to computer science we are widening over
computer science we are widening over
computer science we are widening over all College capacities and create more
all College capacities and create more
all College capacities and create more flexibility by mirroring the
flexibility by mirroring the
flexibility by mirroring the introductory phases of study programs
introductory phases of study programs
introductory phases of study programs digitally and use these as another way
digitally and use these as another way
digitally and use these as another way to qualify for universities through the
to qualify for universities through the
to qualify for universities through the combination of online and offline
combination of online and offline
combination of online and offline learning blended learning refugees can
learning blended learning refugees can
learning blended learning refugees can start studying online for up to two
start studying online for up to two
start studying online for up to two semesters and then transfer to one of
semesters and then transfer to one of
semesters and then transfer to one of our partner universities offline with
our partner universities offline with
our partner universities offline with the proven track record that clearly
the proven track record that clearly
the proven track record that clearly demonstrates eligibility what proves
demonstrates eligibility what proves
demonstrates eligibility what proves better that someone is equipped for
better that someone is equipped for
better that someone is equipped for studying then actually having studied
studying then actually having studied
studying then actually having studied and gathering credit points at Chiron we
and gathering credit points at Chiron we
and gathering credit points at Chiron we developed this model to support refugees
developed this model to support refugees
developed this model to support refugees and accessing higher education but
and accessing higher education but
and accessing higher education but blended learning is an opportunity to
blended learning is an opportunity to
blended learning is an opportunity to revolutionize and innovate the access to
revolutionize and innovate the access to
revolutionize and innovate the access to higher education for everyone everywhere
higher education for everyone everywhere
higher education for everyone everywhere and anytime this is not only benefiting
and anytime this is not only benefiting
and anytime this is not only benefiting the individual that seeks personal
the individual that seeks personal
the individual that seeks personal fulfilment but also overall society the
fulfilment but also overall society the
fulfilment but also overall society the impact of higher education through
impact of higher education through
impact of higher education through blended learning can be clearly measured
blended learning can be clearly measured
blended learning can be clearly measured by taking the individual value and also
by taking the individual value and also
by taking the individual value and also the governmental value into account this
the governmental value into account this
the governmental value into account this means that you will get for every
means that you will get for every
means that you will get for every invested euro into higher education
invested euro into higher education
invested euro into higher education nine-point eight four out of it
nine-point eight four out of it
nine-point eight four out of it increasing the access to higher
increasing the access to higher
increasing the access to higher education therefore provides a clear
education therefore provides a clear
education therefore provides a clear benefit for our entire community which
benefit for our entire community which
benefit for our entire community which is mirrored in this significant social
is mirrored in this significant social
is mirrored in this significant social return on investment rethinking our
return on investment rethinking our
return on investment rethinking our entire way we provide access to higher
entire way we provide access to higher
entire way we provide access to higher education would have not only been 40
education would have not only been 40
education would have not only been 40 years ago relevant for my Baba and is
years ago relevant for my Baba and is
years ago relevant for my Baba and is nowadays urgently relevant for Refugees
nowadays urgently relevant for Refugees
nowadays urgently relevant for Refugees I
I
I we believe that innovating admissions
we believe that innovating admissions
we believe that innovating admissions and pushing for a performance-based
and pushing for a performance-based
and pushing for a performance-based access will be a breakthrough for a more
access will be a breakthrough for a more
access will be a breakthrough for a more just and equal society for all of us and
just and equal society for all of us and
just and equal society for all of us and all future generations to come if we all
all future generations to come if we all
all future generations to come if we all push for this together
push for this together
push for this together joining higher education will be as easy
joining higher education will be as easy
joining higher education will be as easy as clapping in our hands for everyone
as clapping in our hands for everyone
as clapping in our hands for everyone everywhere and anytime thank you very
everywhere and anytime thank you very
everywhere and anytime thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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